Looking for a new career in small-scale food production?

People involved in small-scale food production are invited to apply to become a Growing Livelihoods pilot. Are you using innovation and co-operation to create viable livelihoods in farming - particularly for young people and those looking for a new career direction? Then we'd love to hear from you!

The joint Growing Livelihoods initiative, between the Carnegie UK Trust, Plunkett Foundation and the Land Settlement Association Charitable Trust, is looking for five new groups to support as part of the programme.

Growing Livelihoods is working to create, test and promote new opportunities in smaller-scale food growing for those new to the sector, young people or those seeking a new direction. This initiative has a particular focus on the use of co-operation and innovation to help create viable livelihoods in this sector.

Growing Livelihoods is currently supporting five pilot groups. The application process to recruit five more pilot groups is open until 4th June 2015. Each pilot will receive a grant of £6,500, access to specialist support and be part of a Growing Livelihoods Network where they can link up with other groups trying to achieve similar aims. Details on how to apply are available on Carnegie UK Trust’s website.

Gina Wilson, Senior Project Officer at the Carnegie UK Trust, said: “It’s fantastic news that our pilot programme is to double in size. The more innovators we bring together; the more we all learn. This grant builds on the significant investment already made by the Carnegie UK Trust and allows us to test more ideas. We’ll freely share information on what works and ‘open-source’ innovative and enterprising blueprints to help people across the UK create viable livelihoods.”

Mike Perry, Head of Development and Policy at the Plunkett Foundation, said: “We are delighted that such a respected organisation as the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has offered the Growing Livelihoods partnership a grant to extend our pilot programme. Through this work we aim to help support the development of co-operative approaches that assist smaller scale growers while at the same time helping to build a learning network.”

For more information and to apply, please visitwww.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/Changing-Lives/People-and-Place/Growing-Livelihoods

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